HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's soccer team (6-8, 3-4 HL) hosts Green Bay (7-8-1, 1-5-1 HL) on Sunday afternoon. Prior to the match, there will be a celebration of NKU's senior class.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY at GREEN BAY
Sunday, Sept. 27 – 1:00 p.m. – NKU Soccer Stadium – ESPN+
SERIES HISTORY
NKU leads the series 4-0. The Norse defeated the Phoenix, 2-1, in their last matchup on September 15, 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
NKU took a resounding 2-0 win over Oakland on Wednesday night to bring the Norse up to 3-4 in conference play. Freshman Lindsey Meyer scored her first collegiate goal in the contest during the 32nd minute and Ally Perkins cushioned the Norse lead in the 79th minute. The match was the best performance of NKU's back line to date this season, giving up just two on-target shots.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Green Bay comes into the match directly under Northern Kentucky in the Horizon League standings with a 1-5-1 record. Seven members of the Phoenix have scored two or more goals as Caitlin Hawley leads all players with four. Hawley also leads Green Bay in shot attempts this season, with 58 percent of them being on target. The Phoenix typically play two goalkeepers a match, starting Courtney Klatt (1.17 GAA, .639 SV%) and subbing in Claudia Janese (0.95 GAA, .818 SV%).
END OF AN ERA
Five Northern Kentucky seniors will play their final regular-season match at NKU Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon: Jennifer Farwell, Hannah Fischer, Perkins, Julia Tout and Shawna Zaken. One more senior, Emily Soltes, has missed this season to injury and has elected to play next year for the Norse as a redshirt senior. These five players have helped NKU to a solid 38-27-4 record over the last four seasons and a Horizon League title in 2016.
ZAKEN LEADS THE WAY
Senior Zaken leads NKU's offensive efforts this season. After scoring six goals last season for the Norse, she has surpassed that mark this season with eight. She has scored multiple goals in NKU's matchups against Eastern Kentucky and Murray State.
SAVE MACHINE
With two games remaining in the 2019 regular season, Mimi Stines has 71 saves on the year, which is sixth-most by a Norse in a single season. Her 5.07 saves per game would be the most by a Norse ever if the season were to end today. Despite playing just one season, she is three saves away from being tenth all-time in career saves.
NONCONFERENCE BUZZ SAW
Despite going 3-4 in nonconference play, NKU knocked off two teams that are defending conference champions and preseason favorites to win their leagues. Lipscomb won the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship after a 15-5-2 season and Murray State won the Ohio Valley Conference Championship with a 13-5-1 record. NKU's nonconference opponents have a winning record and over 50-total wins on the year.
THIS YEAR'S SQUAD
The Norse return 16 players from last year's team, including leading scorer Shawna Zaken, and welcome nine newcomers to the squad. Taylor Abbott, Annie Greene, Kiley Keehan, Jamie Lehker, Meyer, Stines, Megan Sullivan, Shelby Wall and Kayla Wypasek are in their first seasons at NKU.
PRESEASON POLLING
Northern Kentucky was picked to finish second in the Horizon League preseason poll, receiving 79 points. Four-time defending Horizon League champion Milwaukee was picked to win its fifth-consecutive championship this year, garnering 90 points and eight first-place votes.
HEAD COACH BOB SHEEHAN
Bob Sheehan is in his 23rd season at the helm of the NKU women's soccer team. He sports a 322-114-29 all-time record. His teams are 26-11-5 in Horizon League regular-season play.
